Ancient Silver Hayagriva Phurba, Tibet - Soto Asian Art 禪藏

Ancient Silver Hayagriva Phurba, Tibet

Ancient Silver Hayagriva Phurba, Tibet

Estimate Period: 13 th – 14 th Century

Height: 45.5cm

In Sanskrit, it is called kīla, in Tibetan, it is called phurba, phurba. „Phur‟ translated from the Sanskrit „kīla‟, meaning peg or nail. Invented by the 8th-century Indian Buddhist master, Padmasambhava (Guru Rinpoche), it is widely assumed the tripled bladed ritual dagger, originate from ancient India, symbolises the powerful Buddhism activity of the wrathful deity.

Like the Bell in Vajrayāna Buddhism, the Phurba is an entire “mandala” or the symbolic universe of the deity. The Phurba not only serve to secure all four corners in nomadic tents within mountainous regions of Central Asia; but also serves to restrain evil forces by piercing the earth so the embodied deity can sanctify the ground underneath. During wrathful ritual, high-level Shaman uses the blade of the Phurba to protect, banish, repulse, and exorcise demons.

Hayagriva is one of the eight enlightened Herukas, the Wrathful Heruka, is the emanation of Amitābha. It is widely documented in Buddha‟s teachings; Hayagriva is a slayer of demons, a dharma warrior, and protective presence extraordinaire, worshiped for its speed, strength, and intelligence.

Masterfully hand-crafted; the three-sided Hayagriva Phurba forged in ancient silver. The deity handle possesses three scowling faces, a roaring mouth, protruding fangs, three ruthless glaring eyes, and furrowed eyebrows; with a horse head on top of the crown of five leaves ( 五葉皇冠 ). The front of three-edged blade sculpted with the sacred Tibetan antelope head. At the end of the three-edged blade, the antelope firmly gnaw on the ends of the protruding snakes (two adjust nāgas), which symbolises “prevail over greed” ( 降服貪慾 ).